What direction can Career Development Center offer in selecting a major?

Parents know that during the course of life, we discover many opportunities to work in a variety of industries. As we grow, our interests change and our work life changes to reflect that development. In the Career Development Center field, we have found that work satisfaction is directly related to our personality, interests, skills, and values. No matter how popular or trendy a job, those people who rate their lives "very satisfying" look at their careers from this perspective.

A liberal arts education is designed to expose students to a broad range of opportunities. We in the Career Development Center believe that to set that lifetime course, the individual must identify his or her own gifts and talents. We encourage all parents to visit the student sections of this web site to learn more about the inventories and other resources we use to help a student decide his/her major and set a personal career path.

We believe the freshman and sophomore years are not too early to be thinking about a career. Students are encouraged to get involved in various activities and learning situations that may later result in career opportunities. No matter what major is selected, all students will find numerous career options and many sources of information in the Career Development Center.

What can you really do with a college education? For the parent (or student) wondering if the degree is really worth the effort, check out information about our alumni. Also, be sure to view the list of universities where AU alumni have won fully-funded placements in graduate programs.

Do you offer personality testing? What does it cost me?Counselors are available to work one-on-one with an enrolled student at no charge to the student. We use personality inventories, as well as assessments that identify interests, skills, abilities, and values to direct students toward majors and careers that may be of interest to them. Our trained counselors' goal is to match your student with the kinds of careers and work environments that will provide the greatest job satisfaction and success over the course of a lifetime. The Holland Self-Directed Search and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator are two highly recognized inventories and are administered by trained and certified counselors. Career counseling and the many resources available in the Career Resource Center are services Anderson University provides to enrolled students at no additional cost. We encourage Freshmen and Sophomores who have not declared a major to take LART1200 Career and Life Planning. This for-credit course provides the direction most students need to select a major and begin determining their career path.

Is there help writing a résumé and cover letter?No preparation for job hunting or interviews is complete without a résumé. This one-page document typically outlines a candidate's education, previous work experience, skills and activities. As students seek more professional careers, their job seeking tools become more customized to that industry and may include a résumé, as well as a portfolio or HTML website designed to market that student to his or her desired employer. Many resources and examples are available in the Career Resource Center. Résumé Workshops are offered each semester to provide a hands-on approach with group and individual instruction in the computer lab. Complete the workshop and students will leave with a completed or nearly completed résumé on disk. In addition, we offer résumé critiques to assist students one-on-one. We encourage you to review our on-line handouts in the student section of this web site.

What preparation is there before going to a job interview?Students find many up-to-date resources in the Career Development Center. In addition, we conduct résumé critiques and videotaped mock interviews. Through the career counselors' one-on-one coaching and evaluation, students can develop the self-confidence and professionalism needed to succeed. Job fairs and on-campus recruiting provide students with the opportunity to practice these skills in real-life situations. Sophomores and Juniors seeking internships, as well as Seniors seeking full-time employment are encouraged to take advantage of these opportunities when they register with our office.

Are internships available for students at any level of their college education?Internships, whether paid or volunteer, are an excellent way to test or confirm a career path. The Career Development Center offers workshops designed to prepare students to find an internship. Faculty advisors and other professional staff also support students seeking work experience.

Anderson University offers many opportunities to build career skills throughout its curriculum. Course projects, independent study options, Tri-S (Study, Serve, Share), and campus activities through Campus Ministries, campus organizations, CAB and social clubs are just a few ways a student can gain experience while pursing a degree.

Does it cost to participate in internships? Do students get college credit?Because our programs are specialized, students interested in for-credit internships should set an appointment with their faculty advisor. Some programs require an internship for graduation; other programs recommend but do not require an internship. In the case of required internships, a faculty advisor works closely with your student to secure an internship that will satisfy the graduation requirement. Tuition is paid based on the number of credits earned for that internship experience, following the guidelines of that department as described in the Academic Catalog.

Can a student expect to be paid for interning?Each year many students participate in paid internships. Wages are dependent upon the level of skill and experience of the candidate, as well as the needs of the employer. We remind students that skill development and experience is the true goal of any internship and to avoid using "pay" as the yardstick by which they evaluate the quality of any internship.

Where can students go for graduate school information?Each year we graduate many pre-law and pre-med students whose goal is to pursue graduate study. Faculty advisors are available to assist these students gain acceptance to the graduate school of their choice. Some students who graduate from Psychology, Social Work, and other major fields also choose graduate school. For all, graduate school is a serious decision that requires careful consideration.

Since graduate school requires a significant commitment of time and financial resources, our office provides resources and one-on-one counseling to assist any student who is considering further study. We encourage you to look at the student section that describes all these in more detail.

Are students encouraged to attend career fairs?Yes! We participate in on and off-campus career fairs to expose our students to the variety of job opportunities available to them. You can view these dates by clicking here. In addition, our office posts numerous career fairs sponsored by other organizations and universities throughout the country. Not only will students learn about opportunities, but also those who participate gain valuable experience that will assist them in developing confidence and self-esteem.

Does Career Development Center handle job placement after graduation?Our students graduate with very marketable skills and talents. We put employers in contact with students through our on-campus recruiting, job fairs, and student registration services. Students participate in these services voluntarily. We strongly encourage Juniors and Seniors to participate fully in these events not only to secure employment, but also to strengthen their job interviewing skills and to learn their potential in today's market.

How does Career Development Center help with my child getting a job after graduating?

Ever wonder what is the most effective way to prepare yourself for life after college? Our timeline offers helpful suggestions no matter if you're a freshman just starting your college career or a senior preparing to graduate. This page lets you know what you need to start thinking about now... and what you can keep on the back burner for next year.

If you'd like to check out job opportunities, internships or find out about potential employers, find out about Career Fairsor our job posting website, Raven CareerLink. Here you can view online newsletters about job postings, search for jobs related to your area of study, and learn the basics of obtaining your job after college.

How do students find out about job openings?All job openings received in our office are placed on Raven CareerLink, our job posting website that is available to all students and alumni. Simply register and then log-in and search as often as is necessary.

We market our job fairs and on-campus recruitment on College Central, through notifications sent via campus mail to selected majors, and on stall-talk.